Episode 279: Christian Nationalism, Part Three--Historical Warnings

When the movement of Jesus and his followers first started, it quickly was seen as an enemy of the state, subverted the empire's claims of eternal dominance, and drew people from all nationalities, languages, social locations, and walks of life.  But after several centuries, the Empire co-opted Christianity as its official state religion, turning the cross into a symbol for conquest, and forging a strange alliance between the Gospel of a crucified Savior of the world and the tools of state power.  And ever since, Christianity has wrestled with the dangers of being hijacked by national governments, ethnic and racial groups, political players, and the lure of military conquest--whether it was the Thirty Years War between Protestants and Catholics in the "Holy Roman Empire" during the 17th century, the "Doctrine of Discovery" that endorsed "Christian" colonization of the Americas, Africa, and Asia, the notion of "manifest destiny" in the United States, or even the state-church that gave its endorsement to Hitler and the Nazi regime in Germany. In this week's episode of Crazy Faith Talk, pastors Erica, Sarah, and Steve explore some warnings from the last two thousand years of history of what can happen when Christianity is wedded to nationalism, and what that might say to us for how we live out our faith in the 21st century.  Another deep dive and important conversation here--check it ou!